How does this happen??

[boytjie]

Okay, I need someone to please tell me how I can go from a couple of half-dead K-mart Phal NOID's to this, in less than a year. Just finished my new setup, and it looks great! Thought I'd share.

The chrome shelf was 90 bucks at Lowes, and I equipped it with two four-bulb T5 lights, one per shelf, then hung 1/2" mesh down one side to accommodate the mounted plants. Everything's going nuts under the lights, new growths and blooms popping out from more than half the plants. I fear I went a bit crazy with the BLC hybrids, though; didn't have a clue how big they get. As they start to grow I'll be replacing them with mini-Catts due to space limitations...

One question: the bottom shelf is for the lower-light plants, e.g. Phals, Paphs, Masdies, etc. I have the light a foot higher than the upper shelf, but was also considering screening of some sort below the bulbs, since those T5's really pump out the light. Any suggestions on what folks use for screening material?

[Bird Song Farm]

That is a really nice set up. Your plants all look happy!

As for "how could this happen" I can only mis-quote a song............."You've only just begun"

I have read of folks using white paper to cut down the light level, or you could use sheer curtain fabric. I don't know about green house shade cloth.....might cut back the light to much. Hopefully someone else will chime in with some ideas.

Al

[Royal]

VERY NICE! I'm not sure you really need to put up any screening. Just watch the leaf color. Again, very well done - I am jealous.

[Royal]

I do see one problem... ...too much room!

[boytjie]

Ooooh, you're not helping.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by boytjie

Ooooh, you're not helping.

you need help to stop it!!??

ok, read this slowly!!

stay away from OB!!! Run away as long as you still can!!!! RUN!!!!

but, as it has already started, and there is no cure, I can suggest you some new plants for your collection
Check these two galleries, and get inspired:
Orchid Species - Orchids - stock photos, fine art prints by QTL
Orchid Photography



by the way, a great Setup

[Grandma M]

Boytjie
I have a similar setup made with the same type of cart. I have a 4 48" tube T5 light unit on the bottom where I have bulbos.

I bought the single 48" T5 bulbs which can be joined together. I have 2 bulbs on the top and 1 bulb on the middle shelf. I haven't taken a meter reading yet, but it is pretty bright in there. I can always add another tube if necessary for $39.00. I may take down the 4 tube unit and hang only two of the bulb strips there if I feel I have too much light there. I question it now already.

QUESTION: How do you water your mounted plants? Do you take each one down to water it separetely? That setup looks great and I especially like the mesh to hang mounts. At the present time I hang mine from the rails above, not the best arrangement.

Marilyn

[gixrj18]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

you need help to stop it!!??

ok, read this slowly!!

stay away from OB!!! Run away as long as you still can!!!! RUN!!!!

but, as it has already started, and there is no cure, I can suggest you some new plants for your collection
Check these two galleries, and get inspired:
Orchid Species - Orchids - stock photos, fine art prints by QTL
Orchid Photography



by the way, a great Setup

Ahh, Ramon, a lot of help you are! You can't ask anyone at OB about this, because we are all "enablers of the worst kind"! We will not only encourage it, but will provide links to some that you may not have seen yet....just in case you weren't quite roped in!

[greenbean]

Just what I was thinking! Of course we're not helping! We only help when there's a problem! We're enabling!!!

I wish I had the space for a set-up like yours boytjie. Currently I'm in a dorm room and my house is already full of various houseplants. I only have 7 chids after growing them for more than 3 years, but thats because I got so many other plants first. I think I've pushed my parents about as far as I can.

I'm planning on getting rid of some of the non-chids so I can go nuts and build a real orchid collection.

Hey Mom and Dad, look what followed me home!

Thanks for the great set-up!

[karen38147]

Very nice, I am so jealous....and thanks for the idea. I've been struggling with space and lighting during the winter and I think I'm going to run out to lowes!!